Are you crazy? Browns are probably 1000x times nicer to use than Reds. Reds are popular, but only with manufacturers, not the people who actually have and use mechanical keyboards. You'll be seeing more and more browns I suspect as from what I've read on forums and seen from people who have tried them, almost everybody likes browns. Reds are better than blacks, but that's about it.

Blues are a bit too clicky for me and don't feel as nice to game on (amazing for typing though), but I can see the appeal for some folks (non-gamers especially, I have thought of getting something with blue switches for work, but my workmates may not like it :))

Still, all that said, I don't think I'd buy a Logitech keyboard almost regardless of reviews, there are just better quality units out there and I'm not a big fan of keyboards that look fancy :).Reply

As a Model M user who was looking for a quieter mechanical keyboard that still had a bit of feel to it, I ended up settling on the browns. The unfortunate thing is that they really do have low resistance; I end up bottoming out the keys with every press. I'm actually modding the keyboard with rubber o-rings to soften the landing a bit...

What I'd actually love to find is a Cherry "Clear" switch keyboard - bigger tactile bump, more resistance. But there are so few keyboards with them...Reply

The clears are definitely hard to find. Off hand, you can check Ebay for the Cherry G80-8113 or Cherry G80-8200, though you have to be careful since both models also come available with browns. A heavily used POS board of clears feels lighter then a board of new clears, but still far more tactile then the browns. Beyond the POS boards there was a limited run of Leopold FC200Rs with clears in them, but that was about a year ago and you'd have to pick one up used. The other option would be to get a board and swap clears into it. With PCB mounted switches, like those found on the Cherry G80-3000, it's pretty easy. Switch swapping on boards with plate mounted switches leaves you a lot of soldering to do.Reply

I actually have a clear switch Cherry G80-3000LQCEU-0, bought six months ago from Germany. While it's very nice to type with, it's not a very good choice for gaming. At least for me. On Diablo 3 it consistently did not register some key presses. Reply

You're making way too big a deal out of the difference between browns and reds... I have keyboards with both types (K90 & a Rosewill) and to me they feel almost identical. The tactile bump on browns is very very subtle, to the point that it's imperceptible while typing quickly if you're not used to it (a little more noticeable while gaming).

Vast majority of people that can deal with brown could deal with red,and vice versa. A lot of it's very subjective tho, if you've been using browns a long time then you'll be more used to the slight bump... At the same time, if you've been using reds a while it's not hard to get used to the key travel and avoid bottoming out while typing, even without any tactile feedback.

Blue's tactile click is world's apart IMO. A lot of people describe browns as an in-between reds and blues but to me browns feel much closer to reds. There isn't a best or better switch tho, there isn't even a better switch for typing or gaming, it's all subject to personal preference.

There's also plenty of variety on the market at this point, it's kinda silly to argue whether X manufacturer's model should use Y switch or Z switch based on what else is on the market. You've got tons of choices between old standbys like Das, Filco, Ducky, and even Rosewill's rebrands and newer entrants like Coolermaster, Corsair, Monoprice, and now Logitech.Reply

This is pretty much the first time I've heard someone say that the difference between browns and reds is subtle to the point of irrelevant. I'm looking for something that's good for typing (light weight, not too prone to accidental keypresses, some feedback to keep you from bottoming out) and also for gaming (again, light weight and not prone to unintended presses, but also smooth and responsive).

The browns seemed like the obvious choice as a compromise. Were I only looking for a typing board, and wanted something with real audio/tactile feedback, I'd probably go for a Unicomp over something made with blues, but I don't really feel like either would be ideal for gaming. Well, definitely not the Unicomp, which is 2KRO.

Are you really arguing that browns just aren't that different from reds? I'm not challenging you, I'm genuinely curious. I don't need something with a transition as obvious as that of a spring buckling, but I would like some noticable tactile feedback.Reply

Yeah, that's what I'm saying, the brown switches on my Rosewill RK-9000 just don't feel very different from my K90... If I sit there and poke the key slowly (or stab it repeatedly, i.e. gaming) then I'll be much more aware of the feedback... During fast typing I don't really notice it much though.

I'm sure if I spent some time with it maybe I could get accustomed to feeling it out, but I'm not really alone in this, I've seen lots of people express the same sentiment over at the keyboard & mouse sub forum at Hardforums. Other people swear by their brown boards though, maybe they're more sensitive to the subtle feedback. It's a very subjective thing. Amazon has a good return policy if you don't have any local options and you wanna order different keyboards to try out.

The Rosewill board I have should be fairly representative of other keyboards with browns too (perhaps unlike the Logitech in the review, the comments about dampening and pressure required make it sound weird), AFAIK they're actually Filco rebrands.Reply

Just thought I'd mention for others reading these posts, mechanical switches are actually quite "lite" compared to most membrane switches.

I went from a standard Dell to a keyboard with blues. I had never noticed until I made the switch (pun intended), but with the Dell I had to mash the keys, whereas with the blues, I just need to softly, EVER so lightly tap them :)Reply

Thanks for responding. I've been a little reluctant to commit to a purchase and your input certainly isn't making me feel more confident. :-P I tend to hit the keyboard pretty hard; something tells me I'd plow right past the "tactile bump" without even noticing. Maybe I should just get a Unicomp for day-to-day typing and see how I feel about it for gaming. I mean, I can circle-strafe just fine with this worn-out old Dell, so...Reply

Do note that reds (and any Cherry key switch) will exhibit the same bottom out feedback tho, so if you tend to bottom out you'll still get that sharp clack that's signature of mechanical boards (those with plate mounted switches anyway)...

What's missing (and less accentuated on browns) is that mid travel click that lets you know the switch has been depressed.

If you get used to not bottoming out you get nothing, and technically that mid way click is there to let you know when you've pressed far enough... Some people get used to it even without that feedback, others never do and always bottom out. That's part of what makes switch types a personal choice.

When gaming you'll invariably bottom out. Either way a Cherry switch still feels very different from a rubber dome. Some people don't seem to get that, all Cherry switches provide mostly even pressure all thru their travel. Rubber domes never give you that. Rubber domes always end in a mushy bottom and always require bottoming out.Reply

From everything I've read, I'm looking to get a brown keyboard, too...still rocking a crappy Dell I got free from my last job. At this price, though, I'd rather get a fully customized WASD with preinstalled O-rings. Maybe I can type on this a little in a Best Buy somewhere to get a better sense of the brown feel.Reply

I prefer "Blacks" because they actually have some resistance... But everyone else seems to be such a bunch of wimps that complain about the actuation force. *deep sigh

Still if I had to choose between reds and browns I'd pick the browns hands down. Hence this keyboard is the first Logitech that's interested me in a few years. But that mouse is not going to cut it! Sometimes simpler is simply superior.Reply

Logitech has been mainstream for years, it's getting really annoying. They used to release groundbreaking stuff at a palatable price but they're obviously playing catchup to almost everybody in every product segment.

Remember the beginning of the MX-series mice? The G15 keyboard? The G25 steering wheel with a 6 speed shifter!? All affordable and good quality.

Not they just have run of the mill stuff with spotty reliability. My DiNovo Edge has died twice (now out of warranty) and it was a $150 keyboard...wont be buying another one thats for sureReply

I'd never thought I'd see the day Logitech would put out a mechanical keyboard, let alone a gaming version with a brown switch (blues/ blacks seem to be the most common in gaming boards). The price is decent... maybe it'll grow on me enough to want to buy it.Reply

Finally, after so many days of waiting for mechanical keyboard, logitech delivered a good one. though like some other logitech products customisable backlight would have gone nicely with this keyboard.Reply

I tried a Blackwidow Ultimate and the loudness was actually beginning to make my teeth rattle. I could feel the clicks in my bones. I switched to a Blackwidow Ultimate Stealth and briefly had them side by side.

Let me tell you something. The typing experience on the Blues was very, very mildly better in tactile response and so insanely loud--a mind piercing clicking that could drive lesser men to become axe murderers--that I'd upgrade it to the Stealth 10 times out of 10. The Browns are quieter enough to make an incredible difference in usage. I remember reading one review of the BWU that said, "I started hesitating to use my keyboard because of how long it was." That was me. It was THAT loud.

That said, I can't imagine giving up the tactile response of the Blues or Browns, though. That's part of what makes them awesome for typing. I type more than I game, so the lack of response on the Reds or Black's is kinda meh for that usage.

For gaming, though, I can imagine Reds being better. Not Blacks, not with their higher resistance, but Red's being the Brown's without the feedback, I can see it.

Hell, the BWUS has better rollover, matte finish, is still blue backlit, and it is DAMN quieter. Oh, and it still feels worlds better than any other gaming keyboard. Yeah, BWUS. Forget BWU.Reply

I like the clickiness and audible (as well as tactile) feedback of the Blues on my Blackwidow Ultimate -- for both typing and gaming. But then, I also liked the original IBM PC keyboard, which was even louder.Reply

I can understand where you are coming from with the clicking of the blues, but some people actually really like that (my wife for instance, though not when somebody else is typing :)). I'm with you though, Browns are much less annoying and also are better for gaming.

On the BlackWidow line themselves, there are MUCH better keyboards out there, Logitech keyboards, in the mechanical keyboard enthusiast community, are fairly poorly regarded (though other than the paint coming off one of their keyboards for a friend, I've never personally had a problem).Reply

Likewise here. I adore the aural feedback of the blues and won't trade it for silence but I hate it when someone else is using my PC and i'm trying to do something else (although that is very VERY rare). BReply

There seem to be a lot of mechanical keyboards popping up lately, but none with the split ergonomic design.

I know there are more people who use the straight layout, but most programmers, etc. that I know use the ergonomic layout, and are the type of people who are willing to drop $150 on a keyboard if it will deliver a better typing experience.Reply

I know a lot of programmers and developers and none of them use ergonomic keyboards. You are right that many of us would drop $150 on a keyboard without a second thought, but nobody I've known in the industry the last ten years would use an ergonomic keyboard over a mechanical one. There will certainly be some (somebody likes everything), but I wouldn't think very many.Reply

As a transcriptionist I eventually had to use an ergonomic keyboard, and it did seem to help a bit (my wrists are still jacked from that job, but thankfully programming and emailing cause a lot less wear than 60+ pages in an eight-hour shift). The day I left that job is the last day I will ever use an ergonomic keyboard, because of the association with all the things I had to type on it. :-P

I've already readjusted to normal keyboards (I never stopped using one at home, and laptops don't have them) and I can't imagine what a pain it would be to program on one (I have no intention of trying it). A mechanical keyboard is on my shopping list, and I suspect something like a brown with O-rings would ultimately be more helpful for my wrists than the split keyboard ever was.Reply

Tbh everybody should choose keyboard by trying to type on them. Lots of keyboards pple can deny after pressing few keys simply because it obviously doesn't fit them. Some pple will prefer more rigid, some will prefer more soft touch. For me... I just can't find anything on these super gaming keyboards that would appeal to me. I use M$ Natural Ergonomic keyb 4000 and in the end and after trying many (and wasting lots of money) I finally have something that fits my hands well.Reply

Can you comment on the brightness of the backlit keys please? I own a Logitech G110 which I had to retire early because the backlit keys were very dim which is a feedback I've read a lot on the internet about the model. I moved onto a mechnical keyboard with Cherry MX which I find perfect for my mixed gaming/office productivity needs but would be nice to get a Logitech keyboard as I could use the macro keys and backlit keys since I don't like to have the light on in the office at night.Reply

The nearest Fry's/Microcenters are a full days round trip driving; and while WorstBuy claims "available now" for most of Razer's keyboards; that apparently means "can be shipped to the store same day for pickup"; since when I went to my local location they didn't have any of them out and the instore version of their website indicated not stocked locally.Reply

I've had the G600 since I could first buy it and so far it's my favourite mouse on the market. Possibly favourite mouse ever (and that's a lot of mice).

Between the G600 and the Razer Naga Epic, the G600 wins, hands down, easily. I haven't had my hands on the Corsair M90, but I suspect that the thumb key layout would bother me. G600 fits my hand perfectly and the concave thumb buttons is what makes it superior to the Razer Naga Epic, I can always tell where my thumb is in relation to the buttons.

I've been looking for a mechanical keyboard, was tossing around the Corsair K90, but might also check out this new Logitech one. I think I really need to find a store that carries a lot of mechanical keyboards so I can really test them out before plunking down the money they cost.Reply

" The problem is that the Browns feel like they have higher resistance than the Blues, Reds, or Blacks even though they're actually specced to have the least resistance. They may actually be bottoming out faster, but either way they put vastly more stress on my wrists than the other switches do. I'll have to see how the Rosewill keyboard I have in house with Cherry MX Brown switches plays out, but I can tell you the G710+'s feedback feels more like stiff membrane keys than the other mechanical keyboards I've used. "

i find that very odd. I have both Blues and Browns and i can definitely sense the extra stiffness of the blue keys, no question about that. Could there be another explanation to your findings?

on another notte, I know a lot of folks generalise statements like Blues are better for typing, etc... but really every advice for mech keyboards is useless. It's a case of try out what's best for you.Case in point, i'm a very light touch typist, and i far prefer Browns over Blues for both typing and gaming. Reply

This doesn't sound like descriptions I've read of other brown keyboards, so I wonder what's up with this one...browns should have the same operating force as the reds, except for the little catch where it actuates. They definitely should feel lighter than blues.Reply

My Rosewill with browns feels almost identical to my K90 with reds, I barely even notice the tactile bump with typing since I don't use the Rosewill a lot (it's more noticeable while gaming but then I usually bottom out regardless so it's kinda moot). Logitech might've tried to innovate somehow and screwed up the standard feel of browns.Reply

Can we have some benchmarks and stats please? What are the various button and key latencies in milliseconds?

How fast can the mouse be moved and still track accurately (cm/inches per second)? What's the mouse update rate for this? 1000Hz? 500Hz?

What's the repeatability of the mouse? e.g. set it to linear, place it on position A, move it to position B X cm away at Y cm per second. Move it back to A (you can use guide rails or similar to limit the movement) then see if the pointer is still at the same spot.

How many keys on the keyboard can be pressed at the same time before they stop being detected (excluding the modifier keys)? Which keys are those for maximum?Reply

Actually keys hit at once generally become problem in software processing much earlier than hardware, even for my primitive D3D semestral work I had to implement my own keyboard handler to have it working properly for more complex actions.Reply

I've been using the Monoprice Backlit Macro Mechancial Gaming Keyboard(Apparently, Monoprice calls their products how they see them) for about 3 months now to game and type on and it's been a pleasurable experience to say the least. It's got Cherry MX Reds and is backlit red, with 4 birghtness settings and a pulse setting. It also has 2 usb 2.0 ports and 3.5 mm audio in and headphone jacks.

Many dismiss it because it uses the shell of an existing brand that has since gone out of business but I can attest that the innards are far from similar. It's priced less than this Logitech keyboard, and you can sometimes find it on sale for less than $100.

I hope you would consider calling Monoprice up and ask for one to review. Monoprice is known for their quality and it shows in this keyboard.Reply

Yeah, a review of MP's boards along with the newer backlit Rosewills would be nice, they're some of the best values around... Though the deal I caught for my K90 at $85 was also pretty sweet, and Newegg seems to run it every 3-4 months so it's worth keeping an eye out for, if you can forgive it's one flaw anyway (the subset of keys with rubber dome switches).Reply

That's not the flaw. The one true flaw is the sticky keys. Once a day or so a key just goes bananas. It would be amusing, but what if it undoes all your code changes in a file, or kills your hardcore character. No bueno.Reply

Compare this to say the MS Natural 4000 or Comfort Curve 3000. They're both "softer" typing keyboards but of course there is still plenty of "feedback." I'm not sure what extra "feedback" above and beyond that you could want, or why you'd want it. It's only going to make things louder and less pleasant. And what about speed? Less key-travel (shallower) and less resistance should lead to faster typing. What is good about tall, clackety keys?Reply

It's a personal preference thing, mechanical keys actuate halfway thru their travel tho, unlike rubber domes which require you to bottom out (more stress) every single time in order for the key press to register. Neither's technically a deeper travel key tho, unlike you're comparing it to slimmer rubber dome boards or scissor boards with laptop style keys.

If you're not bottoming out on a mechanical keyboard you actually produce very little noise, particularly with browns or reds... It's actually quieter than a membrane keyboard. I used various iterations of MS Natural keyboards for about fifteen years before going with a mechanical and tbh I haven't looked back. Took me maybe a week to adjust and as a side benefit I also don't experience as much of an abrupt switch when I type on my laptop more.

It's not for everyone, but I wouldn't dismiss it without trying one.Reply

Thanks, maybe I should try one sometime, but I'm not sure where to find one. How are they on wrist fatigue? "Ergo" options are dwindling so it would be nice to know of good straight keyboards that still provide comfort. It seems impossible to use straight keyboards at a good wrist angle, but as others have said, maybe other factors end up mattering more.Reply

Why is everyone making such a big deal about the G600's size btw? Dustin seems to indicate it's too big for him but his own G500 looks bigger... At least from what I can gather while trying the G600 out thru the awful box cutout Logitech made for it, the thing is cut almost like they don't want people to know about the third button (mouse is tilted in/back on the right side)...

I went to the store explicitly because I liked that third button design, I'm not sure I like the general/smaller shape tho. Gonna have to try it out elsewhere once it's out for display, or buy it to try out at some point (Best Buy here has it at $88 tho, ouch).Reply

Ignorant Much? I personally use a Cherry MX Brown keyboard for gaming and i find it just fine. I've heard Cherry MX Blacks vary in quality a lot as well. And, if you knew anything about mechanical keyboards, you would know that the keys are replaceable. Just petition Logitech to release keycaps more oriented to ESDF. However, WASD is the industry standard, and it make more sense that if you're gonna cater to a certain way of moving your character to use the industry standard. If you like Cherry MX Blacks, that's cool, nobody minds, but there are already plenty of MX Black keyboards out there, most suited to gaming, and honestly, I've heard that most people really like Reds or Browns for gaming rather than Blacks. I know I certainly prefer them. Don't say something just based on what you like/what caters to you. Likely (unless you like Cherry MX Greens or Clears) there are keyboards that cater to you, so get someone else's keyboard. Logitech's not gonna be weeping because not everyone buys a Logitech Mechanical Keyboard.Reply

I know you can't review everything; but I really wish you had a review for the G700. Wired/wireless mouse. I really like that it can be either, but I'm hesitant about the type of plastic they used on it, soft touch or gtfo. I don't like that hard plastic either.

On another note I've been seeing a lot of NAS boxes using ARM processors now, can we get some reviews on those? I mean, how can it be fully functional running on ARM?Reply

I have 2 G15s; the ones with 18 G-keys on the side. I understand that many people don't like that many because of the extra width, and they don't need that many extra macro keys, but I do use them and so this keyboard is somewhat of a disappointment to me despite its other qualities.

Logitech did a nice job here, I know many people have been asking the company to build a mechanical keyboard and they will be thrilled with this one, but it misses the mark for me.Reply

...FILCO Majestouch Ninja tenkeyless keyboards. These plasticky Logitech devices are pure junk without minimalist aesthetic appeal and build quality. With FILCOs, you could literally hammer a nail in the wall. A red Esc. key is a must.

I recently got a brown key setup. LOVE it. This I would love even more-so, but did I miss somewhere if it also had PS2 capable n-key rollover? I think this one is only limited to 26 keys. I refuse to use USB limited keyboards because of this. (and at my best, I was very near world-record typing speeds). My current brown does have n-key rollover as long as used with the supplied USB->PS2 adapter. Unfortunately, even a very nice 26 key can catch me sometimes. N-key is my one must-have in any keyboard first and formost. Unfortunately, it's also severely limiting to my resulting choices. I had hopes for this one but... I hope I'm wrong and it does include n-key.

I actually like blacks myself. Super quiet. But require a bit more force. Browns are my 2nd favorite. I don't like reds or blues. And I had near world record typing speed, just never did get the noise. And I too grew up with old-school typewriters and apple/TI brick computers. I'm getting up there myself but the noise always messed with me. But I love the feel. Black is my preferred for gaming though. Again, just personal preference. Brown for typing but gaming is also very nice. But I tend to get excited and false-press on my brown far more-so then I do with my blacks.Reply

What mechanical keyboards have you used? They aren't that loud unless you get Cherry MX Blues or Greens. Browns (seen here) are fairly mild, even when bottoming out. Plus, Mechanical Keyboards aren't gonna be industry standard again for a while, if ever again, so I wouldn't expect to have Mechanical Keyboards in school computer labs anytime soon.Reply

The problem is, I buy an illuminated board for a reason, to see all the characters lit up. This keyboard has many keys with the two characters vertically placed - so only the top character gets illuminated - the lower one is VERY difficult to see. Some mech keyboard makers have characters next to each other (horizontally) in the top half of the keys so they BOTH get illuminated. Just returned a Ducky 9008 shine II because of this.

I think they made a lot of right choices with the G710+ - I use MX Browns now as it's an excellent compromise for work and gaming.The most annoying part is of course the click noises while on a call as the microphone pick up that noise a lot - if the G710+ reduces it at least a little that would be a godsend for me...Reply

Well the G710+ uses o-rings on the bottom to soften the landing, making it quieter. And still, you don't have to get a brand new keyboard just because it has O-rings. WASDKeyboards.com sells packs of o-rings in 3 varieties to quiet mechanical keyboards.Reply